Street-cleaning machine



Feb. 17, 1925. 1,527,010

W. B. POWELL STREET CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet'1 INVENTOR Feb. 1'7", i925. 1,527,010

w. B POWELL v MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1922 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4 Q I nill w. B. POWELL STREET CLEANING MACHINE Filed sew. 16, 1922 sSheets-Sheet 5 l I I I I I l I I l I I I I l I I I I I I I I 1 I I vgww'ntoz Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. POWELL, OF M MPHIS, TENNESSEE.

i STREETCLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed September 16, 1922. Serial No. 588,616.

"loosen debris from the surface of astreet and to pick up and conveysuch loosened debris to a suitable container whereby it may be carriedto a dump or deposited in heaps for collection.

The principal objects of my invention are: first, to provide means toseparate the heavier from the lighter debris, as for instance, sticksandtrash from dust and dirt, and to provide separate compartments in thecontainer for these two classes of debris which compartments may beemptiedinde pendently; second, to provide means to prevent the spread ofdust created by action of the machine and to provide an arrangementembodying a water filter or precipitating medium whereby the dust ladenair entering the container is purified subsequent to leaving themachine; and third, to provide a ma chine embodying the foregoingfeatures that is light, durable, relatively inexpensive to produce andoperate and that is thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation. 7

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, my invention consists inthe novel fea tures of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theac; companying'drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the different views Figure 1 is a side elevationof a street cleaning machine embodying the novel and "essential featuresof my invention;

Figure 2, an enlarged longitudinal section through the dbris containershowing the connection of the fan pick uparrangement therewith; and

Figure 3, a rear elevation of the dbris container. 1

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 10 designates a suitablewheeled frame that L is adapted to be propelled in any preferred manneran 1 9.911 which the constituting my invention are adapted to be mountedin the relative arrangement shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, wherebythe objects aforementioned may be accomplished. In the present instancethe frame is constituted by the chassis of a motor truck A and thus themachine is adapted to be mechanically propelled as is obvious.

Secured upon the frame 10at any suitable point thereof is a fan orblower 11 that is adapted to be operated in any preferred manner, suchfor instance as a motor 12 which is also mounted on the frame, and

hasconnected therewith a downwardly extending intake pipe 13 and anupwardly extending discharge pipe 14 which latter is connected with andopens into the front end of a debris container 15 mounted on the framebehind said fan and motor.

The discharge pipe 1e enters the front end ofthe container 15 near thetop and near one side thereof (the right hand side in this instance) andthe container is divided by a longitudinal partition 16 that intransverse section extends-in the present instancediagonally from thelower right side to the up perleft side of the container to providewithin the same, debris and dust-receiving compartments 17 and 18,respectively, into the former of which pipe 14 enters as clearly shownin Figure 3 of the drawings.

Formed in the partition 16 near the forward end and near the top of thesame is an opening 19 that provides communication between the dbris anddust compartments 17 and 18, while formed in the rear wall of thecontainer near the top of the dust compartment is an opening 20 thatprovides communication between this compartment and the atmosphere.Intermediately, the dust compartment 18 is divided by a partition 21that extends transversely with respect to the container and the first.partition 16 and that terminates at its lower edge somewhat above thebottom of the container; The.

partition 21 forms compartments 21 and 21 within the compartment 18 sothat air I the contents of said compartments independently and wheneverdesired.

A debris loosening mechanism 27 is shown applied to the lower end of theintake pipe 13 in Figure 1 and is supported a suitable distance abovethe street by the small rollers or wheels 25.

In the operation of my machine, the tan .1 creates a vacuum ofsufficient force which will pick up anything in reason that may be underthe drag as the machine passes along the street. What is meant byanything in reason, is anything equalling in weight one.- fourth of abrick. From the fan, the particles of dirt picked up by vacuum areforced through an intake opening in the container 15, compartment 17thereof.

Uponentering of dirt in the chambercompartment 17, the velocity of aircauses a whirlwind to be formed in the back end or the chamber strikingthe top, rear end, transverse partition 16 and sides, during which timethe heavier particles are falling by gravity to thebottom of compartment17. In leaving the.compartment 17, the dust laden air hasto pass throughthe outlet 19 into a filtering compartment 21 The said outlet is used inthe front. and upper lefthand corner of the transverse partition 16.Dust laden air enters the filtering compartment. 21 with suiiicientforce to pass through water containedin the compartment 18 and underbaflie plate '21. A certain amount of back pressure is built up incompartment 21 which serves tokeep a mint mum amount of dustand preventheavier particles from passing through the outlet 19. The dust that doespass through the outlet 19 is filtered from the air while passingthrough the water and under the baffle plate 21 into compartment 21.From 00111- partment 21, the purified air. passes out of a final exhaust20 into the open atmosphere by expansion or whatever remaining velocityit may have after passing through thewater and under said baffle plate21.

It is to be understood that the tank is constructed air tight at allcorners and intersections thereof .to prevent any leakage of water orair, other than through regular.

air passages as explained above.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying draw ings, it is believed that the construction. operationand advantages of my improved, machine will be fully understood, andwhile I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention I do not limit myself to the construction and arrangementshown, except for such limita tions as are contained in the appendedclaims.

I claim 1. A street cleaning machine comprising a debris container, alongitudinal partition dividing said containerinto dbris and dustcompartments, -air suction operable means to discharge dbris into saiddebris compartment, means to cause the heavier dbris to remain in saiddbris compartment and the lighter debris to be carried into said dustcompartment, and means in the latter compartment to separate the lighterdbris from the air and purify the latter prior to its discharge to theatmosphere.

2. A street cleaning machine comprising a debris container, alongitudinal partition dividing said container into debris and dustcompartments, air suction means operable to dischargedbris into saiddebris compartment, means whereby the heavier debris is separated fromthe lighter dbris and these two classes of dbris deposited,respectively, in said debris and dust compartments, and means in, thedust compartment to purify the dbrisla-den air prior to its discharge tothe atmosphere.

3. A street cleaning machine comprising a debris container, alongitudinal partition dividing said container into debris and dustcompartments, air suction means operable to discharge debris into saiddebris compartment, an opening in said partition providing communicationbet-ween said compartments, a transverse partition terminat' ing shortof the bottom of said container and dividing said dust compartment intotwo sections, and anexit opening providing communication between one ofsaid sections and the atmosphere, said dust compartment beingadapted tobe filled with water above the level of the bottomof said transversepartition whereby dust laden a-irentering said dust compartment mustpass through said water prior to its dischargeto the atmosphere.

4. A street cleaning machine comprising a dbris container, alongitudinalpartition dividing said container into dbris and dust compartments, saidpartition extending diagonally of said container, air suction meansoperable to discharge dbris into said debris compartment, an opening insaid partition providing communication between said compartments, atransverse partition terminating short of the bottom of said containerand dividing said dust compartment into two sections, an exit openingproviding communication between. one of said sections and theatmosphere, said dust compartment being adapted to be filled with waterabove-the level of the bottom of said transverse partition whereby dustladen air entering said dustcompartment must pass through said waterprior to its discharge to the atmosphere, and a door closing thelower-portion of each of said compartments whereby the contents thereofmay be dumped.

5. A dust separator for street cleaning maehillfis comprising anairtight rectangle lar dbris container having an inlet in its forwardwall and an outlet in its opposite wall, a longitudinally and diagonallyarranged partition extending throughout the length of said container anddividing said container into dbris and dust compart ments, saidpartition having an opening formed therein adjacent its forward upperend establishing a means of communication between said compartments,said dust compartment being adapted to be partly filled with water, anda centrally arranged transverse partition extending within the water ofthe dust compartment and terminating short of the bottom thereof wherebysaid dust compartment will be divided into two sections, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM B. POWELL.

